At the age of 21, she is taking over the company where she completed her work-study placement

Honorine MEUNIER

Director of the La fée des Fleurs

Florist

My age has actually been an advantage, as I’ve been able to access a lot of financial support, particularly the grant Jeune Accès+ from France Active

At the age of 21, she is taking over the company where she completed her work-study placement

Secondigny, 79130

Florist

It was in Secondigny, a village of 3,000 inhabitants, that this young florist decided to take over the shop where she had completed her CAP apprenticeship and to stock it with locally sourced flowers. Open for barely a year, the shop has built up a loyal customer base and breathed new life into the local community.

Drawing on one's roots

The countryside, the nature, the flowers: Honorine grew up there and remains deeply attached to it. As a child, she would make her first bouquets with her grandmother during long walks in search of wildflowers.

With her A-levels degree, the big question of what to do next arose. “I couldn’t see myself spending my days sitting in a lecture theatre,” she confides. The answer was clear: she enrolled on a floristry vocational course, a choice that allowed her to combine practical training with creativity.

It was during her training that she became aware of the hidden side of the floristry industry: production that is often imported, heavy on pesticides and not very environmentally friendly. These realisations strengthened her convictions: she wanted to practise her trade differently, using local, seasonal and sustainably grown flowers.

Making the most of her commitments

When her apprenticeship supervisor, Mathilde Talbot, told her she wanted to sell the shop, Honorine saw it as a unique opportunity to put her ideas into practice. With the support of her parents and guided by her convictions, she decided to take over the business to develop a range of products that are sustainable and socially responsible.

“I wanted to offer something different in my region, and above all to encourage more conscious consumption,” she explains.
Honorine embodies a generation that wants to do business differently, bringing a more committed approach to environmental issues.

Ideas that spring to mind every day

A year after the takeover, the shop continues to reinvent itself.

“This week, I received a delivery from a flower farm in Deux-Sèvres, just a few kilometres from my workshop,” says Honorine enthusiastically. Among the deliveries: vibrant sunflowers and a variety of seasonal flowers. Today, her customers fully understand the importance of where the flowers come from and their impact on their health and the planet.

While the shop is first and foremost a florist’s, it has also transformed into a delicatessen, offering local products: jams, teas, chocolates and handmade soaps.

This shift is part of the same philosophy: to promote regional expertise and create a vibrant hub in the heart of the village.

A vibrant and inspiring youth

Her young age may come as a surprise to some, but Honorine has turned it into a strength. With the support of France Active, she was able to secure a bank guarantee and join a network of regional entrepreneurs. These exchanges have helped her to consolidate her business plan and gain confidence in her role as a business owner. Today, Honorine is brimming with ideas for developing new partnerships and expanding her range. With local flowers, regional products and personalised advice, she is gradually building a business that reflects her own character: authentic, committed and full of life.

The energy of the younger generation and the support of our partners

Supporting young people under the age of 26 means investing in a generation that dares to start a business right at the start of their working lives. Together with its partners, France Active offers them practical support: helping them to structure their business plans, access bank guarantees without a personal guarantee, and benefit from advice and networking opportunities.

In 2024, thanks to the MAIF Solidarity Fund, the ENGIE Agir pour l’Emploi Foundation and the Duval Foundation, 10 projects were awarded €5,000 each.

Each year, nearly 1,000 young people are supported in this way. These projects reflect the energy and diversity of initiatives emerging across the regions, driven by the commitment and perseverance of a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Has benefited